Tagged With marketing

Success isn't just for extroverts, according to author and "hermit entrepreneur" Morra Aarons-Mele. In an ambitious and stressful field of business, Aarons-Mele has built her expertise in finding excellence without breaking yourself. She talked to us about her "aha moment", her work-at-home schedule, and the two lists she makes twice a year.

International Men's Day was November 19. You missed it, probably because companies don't see pandering to men as nearly as profitable as pandering to women. International Women's Day is for brands. They celebrate it with pink beer, feminised logos, and lip service to equality.

I’ve hardly purchased any new items for my second baby on the way, but I’ve wanted to — this is evidenced by the smattering of product screenshots I’ve saved.

In the middle of the night, when I can’t seem to get my nine-month-pregnant body comfortable in my monster sausage of a maternity pillow, I’ll move to the sofa and just lie there, feeling every single worry about the months ahead creep into my brain. At that point, I’ll grab my phone to read more reviews of miracle swaddles.

We've all seen those transformation photos of people going from pufferfish-like bellies to enviously defined abs. You may have mused, "I wish I could get to that 'After' picture, too." Oh, but you can. Without actually being close to that great a shape, in fact. It's not honest, but marketers do it, and hot damn, you will look fabulous.

The next time your Instagram feeds up an ad, check the brand. Chances are, it's actually a third-party reseller using Insta's algorithm, content marketing and good-old-fashioned arbitrage to get you to buy cheap stuff.

The world of advertising and marketing is competitive with creative professionals going to all sorts of lengths to cajole customers into spending their hard-earned cash. One of the most trusted tools is the good old discount and who needs a helping hand on saving bucks more than an expectant parent? IKEA is currently offering discounts to expectant mums as long as they prove they're pregnant. Enter - the pregnancy-test-in-a-catalogue.

Different causes around the world are associating themselves with everything from music to popular brands. But those associations can lead to serious, negative impacts. For example, in the United States neo-nazis have become associated with Tiki torches and Papa John's pizza following recent rallies and flippant comments made by senior executives. The consequences of such associations can be damaging, but are avoidable according to the CEO of CP Communications, Catriona Pollard.

Sex and violence -- simulated or otherwise -- are two cornerstones of Western entertainment. However, recent research suggest that the old advertising maxim 'sex and violence sell' may actually be bad for business.

In the days before Google, a tiny, cryptic ad in the back of a magazine had a lot of potential. The seller might not be able to fully describe their product, but if the product wasn't very good, that may be a plus for them. Here are some bait-and-switch ads from the 1950s and beyond, and what you'd get if you sent in for them.

There's no doubt that Silicon Valley is a hotbed of innovation where tech is concerned — but if you're hoping to hold your own there, you're going to need to think and market like the best. That's why the Growth Hacking with Digital Marketing Masterclass is such a valuable tool for anyone looking to grow their business, and it's on sale for more than 60 percent off.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have become invaluable tools for digital marketers looking to connect with their audiences. However, these sites—and their users' behavior—are constantly changing. That's why it pays to keep up on the latest training to make sure your business stays relevant, and the Social Media Management Pro Bundle can help.

Instagram's not just for checking up on your ex or indulging your love of small, strange dogs. The visually driven social media network is also a way of browsing services: hairdressers, tattoo artists, and -- it's a bit of a leap but it also makes sense -- plastic surgeons.

Cancer is scary. Chemo and radiation are scary. Herbal medicines and special diets seem friendly and comforting by comparison, but we now have clear evidence that people who use alternative treatments for cancer are more likely to die.

If you run your own business, and own a car, but aren't using it to market your business then you're missing out on a vital advertising platform. If you're driving around a lot, perhaps to get to meetings or to go between different offices, then this is a great chance to advertise your business.

Innovation is not easy. It involves experimentation, taking risks and investing resources in projects that may not deliver the outcomes you want. Optimizely takes a data driven approach to testing multiple scenarios so you can make better decisions about what's best for your business. I spoke with their new managing director for ANZ, Dan Ross, about their Australian launch and the opening of Australian offices in Melbourne and Sydney and how decision making is not about hippos.

IKEA's interest in food isn't quite as well advertised as its homewares and furniture business, but it's definitely not an afterthought for the company. And if IKEA ever wants to merge its DIY philosophies with cooking grub at home, marketeers from Leo Burnett's Toronto office hit the jackpot with their "Cook This Page" campaign.

So you want to self-publish your book? You're in good company. Plenty of authors have gone ahead of you, working to prove that high-quality books can hold their own in the marketplace without the support of a traditional publisher. Amazon, of course, has changed the entire publishing landscape, but authors have been taking control of the publication process as far back as Charles Dickens, or the Brontë sisters. Self-publishing works, if done well -- and for the right reasons.